Slide fasteners and method of making the same

ABSTRACT

A slide fastener including fastener elements formed from continuous filaments of plastic material and carried by cords along inner edges of a pair of tapes, a slider having channels extending therethrough with diverging throats adjacent a diamond post in the slider, and a pair of stop members secured to the pair of tapes at the inner edges, each of the stop members engaging end abutments of the slider to limit movement of the slider and having legs extending obliquely to the inner edges of the tapes such that the legs are received in the throats of the slider when the slider is moved to close the slide fastener to prevent splay of the tapes. The cords have portions of reduced cross section between the stop members and terminal elements of the fastener elements and the slider can be assembled to receive the fastener elements after forming of the stop members by disposing the slider to receive the cord portions of reduced cross section and moving the slider along the cords away from the stop members.

United States Patent 11 i Hofius [111 $872,552 Mar. 25, 1975 SLIDEFASTENERS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME [75] Inventor: David V. Hofius,Meadville. Pa.

[73] Assignee: Textron Inc., Providence. RI.

[22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No: 293,183

Primary E.\"uminw'Bernard A. Gelak [57] ABSTRACT A slide fastenerincluding fastener elements formed from continuous filaments of plasticmaterial and carried by cords along inner edges of a pair of tapes. aslider having channels extending therethrough with diverging throatsadjacent a diamond post in the slider and a pair of stop members securedto the pair of tapes at the inner edges, each of the stop membersengaging end abutments of the slider to limit movement of the Slider andhaving legs extending obliquely to the inner edges of the tapes suchthat the legs are received in the throats of the slider when the slideris moved to close the slide fastener to prevent splay of the tapes. Thecords have portions of reduced cross section between the stop membersand terminal elements of the fastener elements and the slider can beassembled to receive the fastener elements after forming of the stopmembers by disposing the slider to receive the cord portions of reducedcross section and moving the slider along the cords away from the stopmembers.

12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 68 r "46 l I) BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains toslide fasteners and methods of assembly thereof, and, more particularly,to slide fasteners configured to prevent splaying of the tapes of theslide fasteners when closed and methods of assembling the sliders onsuch slide fasteners after top stops are formed on the tapes.

2. Description of the Prior Art Slide fastenersconventionally includeend stops to limit movement of a slider therefor, the end stops normallyincluding a bottom stop for limiting opening movement of the slider anda top stop'for limiting closing movement of the slider. The bottom stop,for many applications, is not externally visible after installation in agarment and is normally installed in a garment where the materialisjoined such that the bottom stop can have a variety of configurationswithout irritating the wearer of the garment, without adverselyaffecting its functional requirements and without hampering installationin a garment. Top stops, however,.are normally relatively prominent andvisible after installation in garments'and are required to be preciselypositioned with respect to the fastener elements of the slide fastenerto permit separation thereof.

In the past, along with the asesthetic and positioning problemsassociated with top stops as mentioned above, a particular problem hasbeen encountered at the top portion of the tapes adjacent the top stopin that when the slider is positioned to engage the top stop the diamondpost of the slider is disposed between terminal fastener elements suchthat the upper ends of the slide fastener tapes extending above the topstop are splayed. Splay is further caused by the separation of the topstop members by the diamond post, and this splay is highly undesirablefrom an aesthetic standpoint as well as causing difficulties ininstallation of the slide fastener in a garment. These difficulties areaccentuated as progress is made in the development of new techniques forquickly and automatically securing slide fasteners to materials, such aselectrostatic methods now being incorporated in massv production lines.The problem of splay caused by the diamond post ofa slider spacing theterminal fastener elements has been solved by reducing the size of theterminal fastener elements as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,008;however, the problem of splay caused by spacing of the top stop membersbetween the diamond post has not been satisfactorily solved.

Top stops for slide fasteners are conventionally made of bands of metalor other material folded upon themselves and around cords at the inneredges of the slide fastener tapes to which the fastener elements areattached. Such top stops have the disadvantages of being relativelydifficult and expensive to apply to the slide fasteners and,additionally, are unattractive as viewed from the exterior side of theslide fastener and are irritating to the wearer of the garment on theinterior side of the slide fastener.

With the advent of slide fasteners utilizing fastener elements formed ofcontinuous filaments of deformable plastic material, attempts have beenmade to provide top stops of similar plastic material to reduce assemblyand material costs as well as to permit dyeing ofthe top stops foraesthetic purposes. Suchprior art attempts,

however, have not solved the problems involved in the production of topstops for a slidefastener due to the flash and jagged edges resultingfrom the cutting of single bars of material fused to both tapessimultaneously and the problem .of splay caused by spacing of the topstop members. The problem of providing a top stop of plastic material isfurther made difficult in that the portions of the tapes above the topstops are required to be flexible to permit folding ofthe tapes duringinstallation in a garment thereby rendering it desirable to have theupper edge of the top stop well defined.

The development of techniques for forming top stops of plastic materialon slide fastener tapes has increased the speed of production of slidefasteners; however, speed of production is still relatively slow due tothe necessity of forming top and bottom stops during separateoperations. The reason for the separate operations is that the bottomstop is desirably secured to the tapes prior to assembly of the sliderand the top stop is secured to the tapes after assembly of the slidersince the stop members of the top stop are purposely designed so as notto pass through the channels in the slider.

Some of the disadvantages of requiring the slider to be assembled afterapplication ofthe bottom stop but prior to application of the top stopare that additional equipment and manual handling operations arerequired, production speed is-decreased, slide fasteners cannot feasiblybe shipped from the manufacturer until the entire slide fastenerisassembled, and broken sliders cannot be replaced without removing thetop stop, installing a new sliderand applying a new top stop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of thepresent invention to overcome the above mentioned problems anddisadvantages in slide fasteners and methods of assembly thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to permit installation ofaslider on a slide fastener after a top stop is formed on the slidefastener.

The present invention has another object in a method of manufacturingslide fasteners including reducing the cross section of portions of thecords along the inner edges of slide fastener tapes and installing aslider after stop members are formed, on the tapes at the reduced crosssection cord portions by introducing the slider at the reduced crosssection cord portions.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to simultaneously formtop and bottom stops on a slide fastener.

Another object of the present invention is to construct a slide fastenerhaving top stop members made of a plastic material and configured toprevent splay of the slide fastener tapes.

An additional object of the present invention is to position top stopmembers in spaced relation to the terminal fastener elements of a slidefastener such that a slider can be installed on the slide fastener inthe area between the terminal fastener elements and the top stop memberswhen the tapes of the slide fastener are slightly splayed.

A further object of the present invention is to construct shoulders ofreduced thickness on top stop members such that the shoulders permitinstallation of a slider thereover but serve to guide the slider to thebodies of the top stop members to limit opening movement of the slider.

The present invention has an additional object in that top and bottomstops for a slide fastener are formed of a fusible plastic material andsimultaneously secured to slide fastener tapes on a side opposite theside from which a pull on the slider extends.

Yet another object of the present invention is to configure top stopmembers for a slide fastener to be received in diverging throats in aslider to close the extensions of the slide fastener tapes above the topstop members in parallel alignment without splay.

Some of the advantages of the slide fastener of the present inventionover the prior art art that the top and bottom stops may besimultaneously applied to the slide fastener tapes, the top stopsprevent splay of the slide fastener tape extensions, the slider can beinstalled after forming of the top stop members, sliders can be replacedon the slidefasteners without removing and replacing top stops and thetop stops permit installation of a sliderv thereover whilestill-functioning to limit closing movement of the slider.

The present invention is generally characterized in a slide fastenerincluding a pair of tapes, fastener elements carried by cords along theinner edges of the pair of tapes, a slider for controllinginterengagement of the I fastener elements and including a pair ofchannels therethrough with diverging throats, and a pair of stop memberssecured to the pair of tapes at the inner edges to engage the slider andlimit movement thereof, each of the stop members having legs extendingobliquely to the inner edges of the tape to be received in the throatsof the slider when the slider engages top stop members and shoulders ofreduced thickness extending from the legs to facilitate installation ofthe slider and guide the slider to the stop members when the slider ismoved to close the slide fastener.

The present invention is further generally characterized in methods ofassembly and manufacture of slide fasteners with the slider installedafter forming of the top stop, the methods including introducing theslider for installation at gapped areas of reduced cross sectionportions of the cords between the stop members and the terminal fastenerelements, introducing the slider for installation at reduced crosssection portions of the cords, or introducing the slider forinstallation at gapped areas between the stop members and the terminalfastener elements.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the preferred embodimentstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a broken front elevation ofa slide fastener having a top stop according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a broken rear elevation of the slide fastener of FIG. 1 is apartially open state;

FIG. 2A is a broken partial rear elevation of the slide fastener of FIG.1 in a closed state;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken rear elevation of the slide fastener ofFIG. 1 in the closed state and with the slider illustrated by dottedlines;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a broken perspective illustrating the cooperation between aslider and a top stop member according to the present invention;

I FIG. 6 is a section taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is anenlarged broken rear elevation of the slide fastner of FIG. 1 during theinstallation of a slider;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged broken rear elevation ofa modification of theslide fastener of FIG. 1 during the installation of a slider.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A slide fastener constructed inaccordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2and includes a pair of woven tapes I0 and 12 having thickened cords l4and I6, respectively, running longitudinally along the inner edgesthereof. A plurality of fastener elements 18 and a plurality of fastenerelements 20 are carried along the inner edges of tapes 10 and 12 bycords l4 and 16, respectively, and each plurality of fastener elementsare made of a continuous filament of deformable plastic material, suchas nylon. The fastener elements illustrated have a coiled configurationwith the edges of the coils facing each other adapted to be interengagedby movement of a slider 22. While a coiled configuration of fastenerelements has been illustrated, the present invention is not limitedthereto but rather can utilize fastener elements individually orcontinuously formed and of various configurations, such as a ladder-likeconfiguration or other configurations suitable for interengagement.

The slider 22, as best illustrated in FIG. 5, has superposed upper andlower wings 24 and 26 extending between a tall 28 and a nose 30 of theslider. A diamond post 32 is disposed adjacent the end of slider 22between upper and lower wings 24 and 26, and the upper and lower wingsextend laterally on opposite sides of the post 32 to define a pair oflongitudinal channels 34 and 36 through the slider for receiving cordsI6 and 14 and fastener elements 20 and 18, respectively. Lower wing 26has marginal flanges 38 and 40 extending transversely therefrom, andupper wing 24 similarly has marginal flanges extending transverselytherefrom to cooperate with marginal flanges 38 and 40 to define thelongitudinal channels 34 and 36, respectively. The channels 34 and 36extend along opposite sides of the post 32 such that the channelsconverge at the end 28 of the slider and form diverging throats 42 and44 at the end 30 of the slider, as shown in FIG.. 2A and 3. The marginalflanges 38 and 40 of the lower wing 26 terminate at end abutments 46 and48, respectively. Upper wing 24 carries housing structure generallyindicated at 50 associated with an aperture 52 in the upper wing 24 tosupport a spring element for providing a locking function controlled bya pull 54 as described in application Ser. No. 857,998 filed Sept. 15,1969 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, a top stop for the slidefastener includes a pair of stop members 64 and 66 secured to tapes 10and 12, respectively, spaced from terminal elements 58 and 62 offastener elements 18 and 20, respectively, such that spaces or gaps Land L exist therebetween. Accordingly, the slider 22 moves along cords14 and 16 between the terminal fastener elements and the stop members 64and 66.

Stop member 64 has a body including a lug portion 68 extendingsubstantially transverse to the inner edge of tape 10 and a leg 70extending from the lug portion 68 in oblique relation to the inner edgeof tape 10. A

pointed shoulder 72 extends from leg 70 and has a thickness less thanthe body. Similarly, stop member 66 has a body including a lug portion74 extending substantially transverse to the inner edge of tape 12, aleg extending from the lug portion 74 obliquely with respect to theinner edge of tape 12, and a pointed shoulder 78 extending from the leg70 and having a thickness less than the body.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the leg and lug portions of the stopmembers 64 and 66 are each of arcuate or semi-circular shape incross-section with smooth external surfaces, and the stop members areformed of masses of fusible plastic material molded onto the tapes andheated'to fuse the material with the tape thereby causing a margin 80 tobe produced around the leg and 1 lug portions having a thickness lessthan the thickness of shoulders 72 and 78.

Top stop members 64 and 66 are secured to tapes l0 and 12, respectively,on the side of the tapes opposite the side from which the pull 54 of theslider extends; and, similarly, a bottom stop 82 made of a mass offusible material is fused to the same side of the tapes as stop members64 and 66 to limit opening ,or separating movement of the slider 22 at anon-separating end of the slide fastener.

In order to assemble a slide fastener in accordance with the presentinvention, continuous tapes and fastener elements, referred to as astringer, are produced. The stringer is then gapped to remove fastenerelements from portions of the stringer to form gapped areas along eachcord. The cords 14 and 16 of the tapes now have portions 84 and 86,respectively reduced in cross section in any suitable manner such as bywelding with ultrasonic vibrations suppled to a die to flatten theportions 84 and 86. Top stop members 64 and 66 are now formed on thetapes at the edges of portions 84 and 86, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7,with cord portions 84 and 86 disposed between the terminal fastenerelements, the inner most edges of the legs 70 and 76 and the shoulders72 and 78 being spaced a small distance from the inner edges of thecords. Preferably, bottom stop 82 is secured to the tapes simultaneouslywith top stop members 64 and 66 with both the top and bottom stopsformed of masses of plastic material fused to the same side of thetapes.

The slider 22 is installed by disposing the tail 28 of the slider toreceive the cord portions 84 and 86 of re-' duced cross section atchannels 34 and 36, the tapes and 12 being splayed to expose flattenedcord portions 84 and 86. The slider 22 is now moved along cords 14 and16 in the direction of the arrow away from stop members 64 and 66 toposition the fastener elements and the cords in channels 34 and 36 ofthe slider.

Once the slider is installed, the slide fastener is applied to a garmentor other object, and, in operation, when the slider is moved to closethe slide fastener, the slider will travel along the inner edges oftapes 10 and 12 with the cords l4 and 16 and the fastener elements 18and 20 carried thereby received in the longitudinal channel 34 and 36inthe slider, respectively, to interengage the fastener elements as theyconverge. When the slider reaches the terminal portions of the fastenerelements 18-and 20, it moves past the end elements 58 and 62 and alongthe gaps L and L of the bare portions of the cords l4 and 16 until endabutments 46 and 48 of the slider engage the stop members 64 and 66. Theorientation of the legs and shoulders of the top stop members guides theslider into abutment with the bodies of the stop members and preventsdisassembly of the slider. The oblique orientation of the legs 70 and 76corresponds to the configuration of the diverging throats 42 and 44 ofthe slider such that the legs are received within the throats while theengagement of the top stops with the end abutments 46 and '48 limitsfurther movement of the slider. As shown in FIG. 2A, the matingconfiguration of the stop members 64 and 66 with the throats 42 and 44of the slider permits the slide fastener to be completely closed whilepreventing splay of the extensions of tapes l0 and 12.-

A modification of the slide fastener and assembling method of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIG. 8 with elements of FIG. 8identical to elements of the slide fastener of FIGS. l-7 given identicalreference numbers. The primary difference in the modification of FIG. 8is that there are no gapped areas of the cords between the terminalfastener elements and the top stop members. Accordingly, the innermostedges of shoulders 72 and 78 and legs 70 and 76 are spaced further fromthe inner edges of the tapes such that the tail 28 of the slider canreceive the cord portions 84 and 86 of reduced cross section adjacentthe top stop members.

Installation of the slider with the slide fastener of FIG. 8 issubstantially the same as that described above except that the tail 28of the slider is introduced at the top stops with the tapes splayed suchthat cord portions 84 and 86 and shoulders 72 and 78 are received in thechannels 34 and 36. The slider is then moved in the direction of thearrow away from the top stop members to position the fastener elementsand the cords in the channels in the slider.

Whilethe slide fastener and method of the present invention are mostadvantageous with the use of the reduced cross section cord portions,the gapped areas between the cord portions and the stop members, and thepointed shoulders of reduced thickness of the stop members incombination, the present invention can be practiced, forinstance, withgapped areas but without reduced cross section cord portions or with thereduced cross section cord portions but without the gapped areas orwithout the pointed shoulders. It is important primarily that the sliderreceive the cords without interference by the fastener elements, such asby using the gapped areas or spacing the stop members from the inneredges of the tapes to permit introduction of the slider adjacent thestop members. The pointed shoulders serve as guides during installationof the slider and need not be received in the channels of the slider,and the combination of the oblique legs and the pointed shoulders serveto center the tail of the slider during installation of the slider.

The steps of the method of the present invention may be performed in anyorder desired; however, the method described above is extremelyadvantageous in optimizing slide fastener manufacture. Similarly, thesteps may be implemented in any suitable manner. For instance, onlyrelative motion between the slider and stringer is required forinstallation of the slider; and, thus, the slider can be held stationarywhile the stringer is moved toward the tail of the slider.

, As well as facilitating installation of the slider, the pointedshoulders 72 and 780f the stop members 64 and 66 facilitate entrance ofthe legs of the stop members in the throats 42 and 44, and the slidingmovement of the slider 22 along the cords 14 and 16 in the gaps L and Lprovides a smooth, silent closure and facilitates opening withoutjamming of the slider. By securing the top stop members 64 and 66 andthe bottom stop 82 on the back side of tapes l and 12 opposite the sideof the tapes l0 and 12 from which the pull 54 of the slider extendsaesthetic qualities of the slide fastener are improved since the top andbottom stops are hidden from view, and the smooth, rounded externalconfiguration of the stop members prevents irritation.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to variations,modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all matterdescribed above or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is 1. A slide fastener comprising first and second tapeseach having a cord at an inner edge;

first and second fastener element means carried by said cords along theinner edges of said first and second tapes, respectively;

slider means having a nose end and a tail end and receiving said firstand second fastener element means to control interengagement thereof,said slider means having between its ends a pair of channels, said pairof channels at the nose end of said slider means having divergingthroats therein; and

first and second stop members secured to said first and second tapes,respectively, at said inner edges to engage said slider means to limitmovement thereof, said stop members projecting above the surface of saidtapes and having bodies with legs extending obliquely toward said inneredges of said first and second tapes, each one of said legs beingreceived in its respective one of said throats of said slider means suchthat said slider means with the legs of said stop members in thediverging throats thereof prevents splaying of said tapes when saidslider means engages said stop members during interengagement of saidfirst and second fastener element means by movement of said slider meansto close said slide fastener, and shoulders extending from said legs andhaving a thickness less than the thickness of said bodies whereby saidshoulders facilitate-installation of said slider means and guide saidslider means to said bodies of said first and second stop members whensaid slider means is moved to close said slide fastener, each shoulderhaving an edge that is aligned with the adjacent edge of its associatedleg so as to form a common edge between said shoulder and its associatedleg and said common edge extending obliquely toward said inner edges.

2. The slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said first andsecond fastener element means have terminal fastener elements spacedfrom said first and second stop members to define gapped areas of saidcords.

3. The slide fastener as recited in claim 2 wherein said gapped areas ofsaid cords are reduced in cross section.

4. The slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said bodies of saidfirst and second stop members have lug portions extending from each oneof said legs and tranversely to said inner edges of said first andsecond tapes, said lug portions engaging said slider means to limitmovement of said slider means.

5. The slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said shoulders ofsaid first and second stop members extend to a point to enter saidthroats of said slider means when said slider means engages said firstand second stop members.

6. The slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said firstand second stop members is formed of a mass of fusible material fused tosaid first and second tapes.

7. The slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said slider meanshas an upper wing and includes a pull extending from said upper wing onone side of said first and second tapes, and wherein said first andsecond stop members are securcdto the opposite side of said first andsecond tapes.

8. The slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein each of one of saidfirst and second fastener element means is formed of a continuousfilament of plastic material.

9. The slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein portions of saidcords adjacent said first and second stop members are reduced in crosssection.

10. A slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes having cords along inneredges thereof;

fastener element means carried by said cords and including terminalelements;

slider means receiving said fastener element means to controlinterengagement thereof; and

a pair of stop members secured to said tapes at positions spaced fromthe terminal elements of said fastener elements means, said cords havinggapped areas in the space between said pair of stop members and theterminal elements of said fastener element means, and said slider meansbeing installed onto said cords and said fastener element means by theintroduction of said slider means along said gapped areas between saidpair of stop members and the terminal elements of said fastener elementmeans when said pair of tapes is splayed between the terminal elementsof said fastener element means and the top of said tapes.

11. The slide fastener as recited in claim 10 wherein said gapped areasof said cords are reduced in cross section.

12. A slide fastner comprising a pair of tapes having cords along inneredges thereof, said cords having cord portions of reduced cross sectionat the top of said tapes;

fastener element means carried by said cords and including terminalelements at the top of said tapes; the cord portions of reduced crosssection being slider means receiving said fastener element means tocontrol interengagement thereof; and

a pair of stop members secured to said tapes at said cordportions ofreduced cross section such that the cord portions of reduced crosssection are between said pair of stop members and the terminal elementsof said fastener element means and said slider means being installedonto said cords and said fastener element means by the introduction ofsaid slider means along said cord portions of reduced cross section whensaid pair of tapes is splayed between the terminal elements of saidfastener element means and the top of said tapes. l l=

1. A slide fastener comprising first and second tapes each having a cordat an inner edge; first and second fastener element means carried bysaid cords along the inner edges of said first and second tapes,respectively; slider means having a nose end and a tail end andreceiving said first and second fastener element means to controlinterengagement thereof, said slider means having between its ends apair of channels, said pair of channels at the nose end of said slidermeans having diverging throats therein; and first and second stopmembers secured to said first and second tapes, respectively, at saidinner edges to engage said slider means to limit movement thereof, saidstop members projecting above the surface of said tapes and havingbodies with legs extending obliquely toward said inner edges of saidfirst and second tapes, each one of said legs being received in itsrespective one of said throats of said slider means such that saidslider means with the legs of said stop members in the diverging throatsthereof prevents splaying of said tapes when said slider means engagessaid stop members during interengagement of said first and secondfastener element means by movement of said slider means to close saidslide fastener, and shoulders extending from said legs and having athickness less than the thickness of said bodies whereby said shouldersfacilitate installation of said slider means and guide said slider meansto said bodies of said first and second stop members when said slidermeans is moved to close said slide fastener, each shoulder having anedge that is aligned with the adjacent edge of its associated leg so asto form a common edge between said shoulder and its associated leg andsaid common edge extending obliquely toward said inner edges.
 2. Theslide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and secondfastener element means have terminal fastener elements spaced from saidfirst and second stop members to define gapped areas of said cords. 3.The slide fastener as recited in claim 2 wherein said gapped areas ofsaid cords are reduced in cross section.
 4. The slide fastener asrecited in claim 1 wherein said bodies of said first and second stopmembers have lug portions extending from each one of said legs andtranversely to said inner edges of said first and second tapes, said lugportions engaging said slider means to limit movement of said slidermeans.
 5. The slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein saidshoulders of said first and second stop members extend to a point toenter said throats of said slider means when said slider means engagessaid first and second stop members.
 6. The slide fastener as recited inclaim 1 wherein each of said first and second stop members is formed ofa mass of fusible material fused to said first and second tapes.
 7. Theslide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said slider means has anupper wing and includes a pull extending from said upper wing on oneside of said first and second tapes, and wherein said first and secondstop members are secured to the opposite side of said first and secondtapes.
 8. The slide fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein each of oneof said first and second fastener element means is formed of acontinuous filament of plastic material.
 9. The slide fastener asrecited in claim 1 wherein portions of said cords adjacent said firstand second stop members are reduced in cross section.
 10. A slidefastener comprising a pair of tapes having cords along inner edgesthereof; fastener element means carried by said cords and includingterminal elements; slider means receiving said fastener element means tocontrol interengagement thereof; and a pair of stop members secured tosaid tapes at positions spaced from the terminal elements of saidfastener elements means, said cords having gapped areas in the spacebetween said pair of stop members and the terminal elements of saidfastener element means, and said slider means being installed onto saidcords and said fastener element means by the introduction of said slidermeans along said gapped areas between said pair of stop members and theterminal elements of said fastener element means when said pair of tapesis splayed between the terminal elements of said fastener element meansand the top of said tapes.
 11. The slide fastener as recited in claim 10wherein said gapped areas of said cords are reduced in cross section.12. A slide fastner comprising a pair of tapes having cords along inneredges thereof, said cords having cord portions of reduced cross sectionat the top of said tapes; fastener element means carried by said cordsand including terminal elements at the top of said tapes; the cordportions of reduced cross section being gapped; slider means receivingsaid fastener element means to control interengagement thereof; and apair of stop members secured to said tapes at said cord portions ofreduced cross section such that the cord portions of reduced crosSsection are between said pair of stop members and the terminal elementsof said fastener element means and said slider means being installedonto said cords and said fastener element means by the introduction ofsaid slider means along said cord portions of reduced cross section whensaid pair of tapes is splayed between the terminal elements of saidfastener element means and the top of said tapes.